Elevation adjustment mechanism for archery bow sights

ABSTRACT

An arm, adapted for attachment to the side of an archery bow, supports an elongated base which mounts an elongated micrometer screw extending parallel to the plane of the bow. A sightsupporting block is mounted on the base for slidable movement parallel to the screw, and a latch is pivoted to the block for releasable engagement with the screw. When the latch is disengaged from the screw, the block may be moved manually along the base for coarse vertical adjustment of the sight, and when the latch is engaged with the screw, the latter may be rotated to effect precise vertical adjustment of the sight. The assembly is reversible for mounting on opposite sides of a bow, for use by right or left-hand archers.

United States Patent 1 Killian Dec. 17, 1974 ELEVATION ADJUSTMENTMECHANISM FOR ARCHERY BOW SIGHTS [76] Inventor: Gerald I. Killian,Portland, Oreg.

[22] Filed: Mar. 18, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 451,944

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 263,419,June 16, 1972,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 33/265 1 [58] Field of Search 33/265, 165

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 302,079 7/1884 Winn 33/165491,926 2/1893 Nutt 33/165 2,742,702 4/1956 Williams 33/265 2,893,1247/1959 Sundquist 33/265 3,058,221 10/1962 McNeel 33/265 3,337,960 8/1967Paul et a1 33/265 3,574,944 4/1971 Reynolds 33/265 n l\) 5a 54 5 6,2 0

3,693,262 9/1972 Wood 33/265 Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince AssistantExaminerRichard R. Stearns Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oliver D. Olson [57]ABSTRACT An arm, adapted for attachment to the side of an archery bow,supports an elongated base which mounts an elongated micrometer screwextending parallel to the plane of the bow. A sight-supporting block ismounted on the base for slidable movement parallel to the screw, and alatch is pivoted to the block for releasable engagement with the screw.When the latch is disengaged from the screw, the block may be movedmanually along the base for coarse vertical adjustment of the sight, andwhen the latch is engaged with the screw, the latter may be rotated toeffect precise vertical adjustment of the sight. The assembly isreversible for mounting on opposite sides of a bow, for use by right orleft-hand archers.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures This is a continuation of application Ser.No. 263,419 now abandoned, filed June 16, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to archery bows, andmore particularly to novel and versatile elevation adjustment mechanismwhich affords coarse and fine vertical adjustment of an archery bowsight.

Elevation adjustment mechanism for archery bow sights have been providedheretofore in a variety of structural configurations. However, they areall attended by certain limitations and disadvantages. Thus, some areincapable of precise adjustment. Others providing precise adjustmentinvolve slow and combersome manual manipulation. Some are operable overa restricted range, so that the full range capabilities of the bow andarcher are not obtainable. Still others are not adaptable for use byboth right-hand and left-hand archers. Others are adaptable for mountingonly on specific types of bows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its basic concept the elevation adjustmentmechanism for archery bow sights of this invention utilizes a releasablelatch on a sight-supporting block for releasable engagement with amicrometer screw, whereby to afford coarse and fine adjustment of thesight.

It is by virtue of the foregoing basic concept that the principalobjective of this invention is achieved; namely, to overcome theaforementioned limitations and disadvantages of prior elevationadjustment mechanisms for archery bow sights.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of elevationadjustment mechanism of the class described in which the sight andmounting components are adjustable for precise alignment with a bow.

A further important object of this invention is the provision ofelevation adjustment mechanism of the class described which isadjustable for either right or left-hand archers to extend the sightrange substantially to the full limits of capability of the bow.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention willappear from the following detailed description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in sideelevation of an archer in ready position for shooting an arrow from abow equipped with elevation adjustment mechanism embodying the featuresof this invention.

FIG. 2 is a foreshortened view in side elevation of the elevationadjustment mechanism illustrated schematically in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation as viewed from the right in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view as viewed from the top in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7 in FIG. 2.

I FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the side and level com ponent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I there is illustrated aconventional form of archery bow 10 provided with a hand grip 12, anarrow rest (not shown) above the hand grip, and a draw string 14 withknocking point (not shown) for receiving an arrow 16.

The elevation adjustment mechanism of this invention includes anelongated arm 20 adapted to be mounted on the side of an archery bow.For this purpose a mounting plate 22 is provided with a longitudinaldove-tail groove (FIG. 7) for slidably receiving the correspondinglyshaped arm 20 slidably therethrough. A pair of spaced, countersunkopenings 24 extend transversely through the plate for reception ofscrews by which the plate is secured to the side of a bow.

A pair of laterally spaced leaf springs 26 extend longitudinally acrossthe base of the dove-tail groove, behind the arm, to provide a degree ofresilient resistance to relative movement of the plate and arm, theopposite ends of the springs being bent back and seated in notches atthe corresponding ends of the plate.

The am is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced tappedopenings 28 for the selective reception of an anchor screw 30. The outerend of the screw is knurled for convenient gripping between the fingers,and the inner end of the screw is tapered for reception in acorrespondingly tapered socket in the base of the dove-tail groove inthe plate. These corresponding tapers serve to center the screw as it istightened, thereby positively securing the plate and arm together in thedesired position of adjustment. The arm 20 thus is adjustablelongitudinally of the plate 22, for adjusting the distance between asight component and the eye of an archer, to accommodate various rangesof shooting.

The forward end of the arm is connected to a bracket 32 (FIG. 2)provided with the same dove-tail groove as the plate 22. A set screw 34is threaded into a tapped opening in the arm for engagement with thebracket, to secure said parts together.

The bracket includes a pair of oppositely projecting 'ears each of whichis provided with a longitudinal opening 36 for the reception ofconnecting screws 38. The

openings register with tapped openings in the rear side of a verticallyelongated base 40. These tapped openings preferably are located in thecentral area of the base and receive the screws 38 by which the bracketis secured detachably to the base.

It is desirable that the longitudinal axis of the base be orientedsubstantially parallel to the plane of the archery bow 10. Since theside of the bow to which the mounting block is secured may not beparallel to-the plane of the bow, means is provided for adjusting thelongitudinal axis of the base angularly relative to the bracket. Thus,one of the openings in the ears, herein designated opening 36, iselongated laterally to permit a limited degree of rotation of the baseabout the axis of the screw in the other opening.

The elongated base includes a correspondingly elongated guide 42 havinga dove-tail shape in cross section. An elongated recess 44 is providedin the front surface of the guide for the removable mounting of a strip46 (FIG. 4) of range marking paper, for the purpose explained more fullyhereinafter.

The elongated guide slidably mounts a carriage 48 for a sight-supportingblock 50. The carriage is provided with a dove-tail groove matching theshape of the dove-tail guide. A leaf spring 52 is interposed between theguide and groove, to provide a degree of resilient resistance torelative movement, the ends of the spring being bent back and seated innotches at the opposite ends of the carriage.

Means is provided for effecting coarse and fine adjustment of thesight-adjusting block along the base. To this end, a plate 54 isinterposed between the carriage and block and secured by the mountingscrews 56 which extend through registering openings in the block andplate and into registering tapped openings in the carriage. One of theopenings 58 in the block is enlarged laterally to accommodate angularadjustment of the block relative to the carriage, for purposes describedmore fully hereinafter.

A lateral portion of the plate 54 is bent to U-shape to overlap one sideof the carriage. The terminal portion of the bent section mounts a pivotpin 60 which, in turn, mounts a latch member 62 intermediate its endsOne end of the latch member is bent inwardly to overlie the bent portionof the plate. It forms a finger button 64 by which to manipulate thelatch member. The opposite end of the latch member is bent outwardlyaway from the carriage and is formed with an arcuate notch 66 arrangedreleasably to engage an elongated micrometer screw 68. A coil spring 70encircles the pivot pin 60 and is engaged at one end with the undersideof the finger button and at the opposite end with the U-shaped portionof the plate 54. The spring thus serves tourge the latch memberresiliently toward engagement of the notch 66 with the micrometer screw.

The screw 68 is mounted for axial rotation on the base by means of apair of spaced bearing members 72 secured to the base by means of screws74. One end of the screw is provided with a knurled knob 76 tofacilitate rotation of the screw. The rotational axis of the screw isdisposed parallel to the line of movement of the carriage andsight-supporting block on the guide.

Thus, when the finger button is depressed the latch member is pivotedabout the pin 60 to retract the arcuate notch from the screw. Thecarriage and attached sight-supporting block thus are freed to be movedmanually along the guide, to achieve a coarse adjustment of elevation ofa sight.

On the other hand, when the finger button is released, the spring 70urges the latch member pivotally about its pivot pin in the direction toengage the notch 66 with the micrometer screw. Thus, upon rotation ofthe knurled knob 76 and the attached micrometer screw, the carriage andsight-supporting block are moved precisely along the guide to achieve afine micrometer adjustment of elevation of the sight.

In the use of the elevation adjustment mechanism described hereinbefore,it is necessary that it be calibrated for the bow on which it ismounted. Thus, the strip 46 of paper is glued to the recess 44 in theguide and various test shootings are made at various ranges. The desiredelevation adjustments for the various ranges then are marked on thepaper in registry with the index marker 80. This marker comprises anoffset portion of a rod 82 (FIG. 5) which is mounted adjustably in anopening in the carriage 48 and secured in desired position of adjustmentby a set screw 84.

In the embodiment illustrated, the sight-supporting block 50 is providedwith a transverse bore (FIG. 5) which slidably receives a collar 92 forlongitudinal movement therein. A locking screw 94 is threaded into aradial, tapped opening in the collar. The outer end of the screw isretained slidably in a longitudinal slot 96 in the block and thus servesto prevent rotation of the collar within the bore. The inner end of thescrew bears frictionally against an elongated, threaded, sightsupportingrod 98 which extends through a tapped central bore in the collar. Theinner end of the locking screw preferably is formed of nylon or othersuitably soft synthetic resin or metal in order to prevent damage to thethreads of the rod.

The threaded rod extends through the block, and one projecting endthereof mounts an adjusting knob 100 provided with an internally tappedbore. The inner end of the knob is reduced in diameter to provide aguide shoulder 102 which is freely received in a reduced diameterportion 90 of the bore. interposed between the rear surface of the knoband the adjacent surface of the block is a resilient O-ring 104 whichserves as a cushion between the parts and also to provide a degree offriction therebetween to resist rotation of the knob.

A coil spring 106 is contained within the bore of the block, surroundingthe threaded rod. It bears at one end against the end wall of the blockand at its opposite end against the collar. A projecting hub 108 ofreduced diameter on the collar serves to center the spring.

The spring thus functions to urge the collar, and hence the threaded rodand mounted adjusting knob, resiliently toward the right in FIG. 5. Thelimit of such movement is adjustable by the knob, and is limited byabutment of the resilient O-ring against the confronting surface of theblock.

The oppositely projecting end of the threaded 'rod 98 mounts an archerybow sight 110. In the embodiment illustrated, the sight is integratedwith a bubble level .v

112 contained in a cylindrical housing 114 secured to and projectingfrom the rod 98. The sight per se is formed of a length of resilientmetal bent to circular shape and confined releasably within acylindrical shell 116 secured to the cylindrical housing of a bubblelevel. One terminal end of the resilient metal sight is bent inwardly tothe axial center of the shell, and provided with a tiny ball tip, asillustrated.

The structural arrangement of the sight-supporting block assemblyaccommodates lateral adjustment of the sight relative to the block, byappropriate rotation of the adjusting knob 100. During such rotation ofthe knob, the threaded rod is restrained against rotation by frictionalengagement of the inner end of the locking screw 94. Thus, the verticalposition of the sight remains unchanged while it is adjusted laterally.This lateral adjustment is a windage compensation adjustment, as will beunderstood.

On the other hand, when the entire elevation adjustment mechanism isreversed on the archery bow, as explained more fully hereinafter, it isnecessary that the sight be rotated This is accomplished merely bygrasping the sight shell and bubble housing between the fingers androtating them, together with the threaded rod, through l80. During thisrotation the adjusting knob 100 is restrained against rotation by virtueof the friction provided by the O-ring 104.

The adjusting knob may be provided with numerical quadrant indicia aboutits circumference to assist an archer in reestablishing predeterminedpositions of lat.- eral adjustment of the sight, as established byprevious trial and error tests.

The arrangement of components illustrated in the drawing is for aright-handed archer. Thus, the arm is mounted by the plate 22 on theright-hand side of the bow (FIG. 1) and the sight 110 extends laterallyto the left. If the elevation adjustment mechanism is to be mounted on abow for use by left-handed archers, the arm mounting plate 22 is securedto the left side of the bow and the sight 110 is arranged to extendlaterally to the right, as viewed by the archer.

If it is desired to extend the range of sighting, the arm is removedfrom the plate, by loosening the anchor screw 30, and the assemblyrotated 180 to place the sight closer to the archer. This reversal ofthe arm also must be accompanied by rotation of the sight 180, as willbe understood. Also, if it is desired that the micrometer screw knob 76be located at the upper end of the assembly, the micrometer screw may bereversed on the base by disconnecting the screws 74 mounting the bearingmembers 72 on the base, and reversing the micrometer screw and bearingassembly. These various adjustments are accommodated for the left-handedarcher in the same manner as for a right-handed archer.

As previously mentioned, one of the openings 58 for one of the screws 56mounting the sight-supporting block 50 on the carriage 48 is elongatedlaterally to accommodate angular adjustment of the block relative to thecarriage. This allows precise leveling of the bubble level 112 when thebow is supported precisely in a vertical plane.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present inventionprovides an elevation adjustment mechanism for archery bow sights whichis extremely versatile in its ability and precise in its operation. Thelatch member 62 accommodates rapid coarse adjustment of elevation, bydisengagement from the micrometer screw 68, and equally fast the highlyprecise fine adjustment of sight elevation by engagement of the latchmember with the micrometer screw. The mechanism is adaptable formounting on a wide variety of types of archery bows, to accommodateeither righthanded or left-handed archers.

[twill be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the size, shape, type, number and arrangement of'partsdescribed hereinbefore without departing from the spirit of thisinvention.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which it may beused, I claim:

1. Elevation adjustment mechanism for an archery bow, comprising:

a. an elongated base,

b. a sight support mounted on the outer surface of the base for movementlongitudinally thereof and supporting a sight disposed laterally of thebase,

c. an elongated micrometer screw mounted on the outer surface of thebase and spaced from the sight support for rotation about an axisparallel to the line of movement of the sight support,

d. a latch member mounted on the sight support having a screw-engagingportion movable between an inoperative position disengaged from thescrew for movement of the sight support freely along the base and anoperative position engaging the screw for movement of the sight supportalong the base by rotation of the screw, and

e. base mounting means including 1. an elongated arm secured at one endsubstantially normal to the base intermediate the ends of the base andspaced from the sight support, latch member and screw for unobstructedmovement of the latch member, rotation of the screw and movement of thesight support between the opposite ends of the base,

. a mounting plate mounting the arm for longitudinal adjustment of thearm relative to the plate, and

. means for attaching the mounting plate to an archery bow with the armextending alongside the bow substantially parallel to the line ofsighting of the bow, whereby longitudinal adjustment of the arm relativeto the mounting plate effects adjustment of the distance between thesight and the eye of an archer, and with the longitudinal axis of thebase disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the bow.

2. The elevation adjustment mechanism of claim 1 wherein the arm isreversible end for end relative to the mounting plate for positioningthe base and sight selectively forward and rearward of the bow.

3. The elevation adjustment mechanism of claim 1 mounting the latchmember, a sight-supporting block mounted on the carriage member andsupporting the sight and a bubble level, the level axis of which isdisposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the base, andadjustable pivot means interconnecting the carriage member and block forpivoting the block about an axis normal to the base, and to said levelaxis for leveling the bubble level when the plane of the bow isvertical.

1. Elevation adjustment mechanism for an archery bow, comprising: a. anelongated base, b. a sight support mounted on the outer surface of thebase for movement longitudinally thereof and supporting a sight disposedlaterally of the base, c. an elongated micrometer screw mounted on theouter surface of the base and spaced from the sight support for rotationabout an axis parallel to the line of movement of the sight support, d.a latch member mounted on the sight support having a screwengagingportion movable between an inoperative position disengaged from thescrew for movement of the sight support freely along the base and anoperative position engaging the screw for movement of the sight supportalong the base by rotation of the screw, and e. base mounting meansincluding
 1. an elongated arm secured at one end substantially normal tothe base intermediate the ends of the base and spaced from the sightsupport, latch member and screw for unobstructed movement of the latchmember, rotation of the screw and movement of the sight support betweenthe opposite ends of the base,
 2. a mounting plate mounting the arm forlongitudinal adjustment of the arm relative to the plate, and
 3. meansfor attaching the mounting plate to an archery bow with the armextending alongside the bow substantially parallel to the line ofsighting of the bow, whereby longitudinal adjustment of the arm relativeto the mounting plate effects adjustment of the distance between thesight and the eye of an archer, and with the longitudinal axis of thebase disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the bow.
 2. amounting plate mounting the arm for longitudinal adjustment of the armrelative to the plate, and
 2. The elevation adjustment mechanism ofclaim 1 wherein the arm is reversible end for end relative to themounting plate for positioning the base and sight selectively forwardand rearward of the bow.
 3. The elevation adjustment mechanism of claim1 including a bracket secured to said one end of the arm, and adjustablepivot means securing the bracket to the base, spaced from said sightsupport, latch member and screw, for pivoting the base about an axisparallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm, for aligning thelongitudinal axis of the base parallel to the plane of the bow.
 3. meansfor attaching the mounting plate to an archery bow with the armextending alongside the bow substantially parallel to the line ofsighting of the bow, whereby longitudinal adjustment of the arm relativeto the mounting plate effects adjustment of the distance between thesight and the eye of an archer, and with the longitudinal axis of thebase disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the bow.
 4. Theelevation adjustment mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sight supportincludes a carriage member mounting the latch member, a sight-supportingblock mounted on the carriage member and supporting the sight and abubble level, the level axis of which is disposed substantially normalto the longitudinal axis of the base, and adjustable pivot meansinterconnecting the carriage member and block for pivoting the blockabout an axis normal to the base, and to said level axis for levelingthe bubble level when the plane of the bow is vertical.